Commode.



Patented lan. 7, |902.

No. 690,4l5.

J. B. FROST.

CDMMDE.

(Application filed Aug. 5, 1901.

(No Model.)

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EETCE.

PATENT JOHN B. FROST, OF NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS.

COMMODE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 690,41 5, dated January '7, 1902.

. Application led August 5, 1901. Serial No. 70,929. (No model.) l

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BFROST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Naperville, Dupage county, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Commodes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to that class of commodes designed to be used in connection with an ordinary chamber vessel; and it has for its primary object to provide improved and simple means whereby a chamber or other vessel may be securely held in position in intimate contact with the under side ot a chair-bottom provided with a hole, and means whereby the chair may be utilized for ordinary purposes when not in use as a commode.

With these ends in View my invention consists in certain features ofnovelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts by which the said objects and certain other objects hereinafter appearing are attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved commode. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of apart of the device. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view of the chair-seat. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View of the chair-seat, illustrating by dotted lines the manner of inserting the chamber vessel; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the action of the spring-jaws when the vessel is being inserted.

In carrying out my invention I employ a chair l, of any suitable design or construction, provided in its bottom 2 with a hole 8, and to the under side of the Vbottom and on each side of lthis hole is supported a springjaw consisting,preferably, ot' asingle flexible rod or strip having-its two ends provided with eyes 4 5, respectively, which are pivotally secured to the bottom of the chair by screws 6 or other suitable devices. The intermediate portion of this bar is so bent as toform two horns, which conform approximately to the outline of the hole 3 in the chair-bottom. One of these horns is constituted by a curved end 7, which curves inwardly and downwardly from the screw 6 and then turns part way around one side of the hole, where it makes a sharp return-bend and adjoins another curved portion 8, which runs substantially parallel with the portion 7, but above it, a slight distance from the bottom 2, and this portion 8 continues around the side of the hole in a higher plane than the curved portion 7 and constitutes the upper part 9 of the other of said horns. This upper portion 9 of said latter horn is joined at its outer end to the lower portion l0 of said horn by a return-bend ll, which latter is also bent outwardly toward the front of the chair, as better indicated in Fig. 4, so that the two return-bends ll on opposite sides of the hole will be slightly divergent with reference to each other in a form and position most suitable for admitting the chamber vessel O between them, and they are slightly curved downwardly at their upper ends, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to insure theirengagement under the flange should one be employed ou the vessel used. The extremity of the lowerhorn member lOis continued around the edge of the hole and thence upwardly to the eye 5, where it is pivoted by the screw 6 to the chair-bottom.

As shown in Fig. Vt, the two horns 7 8 and 9 10 are of different lengths, the latter being the-longer and the more flexible ot' the two, so that it will readily flex to admit the chamber, and after the chamber is admitted between the horns at front and back the greater rigidity of the rear horn 7 8 will prevent the chamber from being pushed too far, the two horns 7 8 at the back being arranged much closer together than the return-bends ll. The pivotal character of the attachments between the members 7-10 and the chair-bottom enables the two horns to be pushed into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 for admitting the vessel without materially bending the curved portion 8 9, and consequently the shape of said curved portion may be better maintained.

If desired, the bottom of the chair around the hole 3 may be provided with a gasket or washer l2, composed of felt or any other suitable material, so as to insure a tight joint be tween the chair-bottom and the edge of the vessel.

To insert the vessel between the jaws, its upper edge is first placed flat against the forward under side of the chair-bottom and then ICO forced inwardly, whereupon the divergent bends 11 will be forced apart and slightly depressed, as shown in Fig. 5, and the'upper curved members 8 9 will grip the sloping sides of the vessel and by virtue of their inward pressure againstsuch sloping sides force the vessel upwardly snugly against the chairbottom or against the gasket thereon, if one be employed. Hence it will be seen that a fiange on the upper edge of the vessel is not necessary for its support by the spring-jaws, and it will also be seen that the resiliency and special shape of the jaws adapt them for holding vessels of Various sizes.

When the chair is not being employed as a commode, the hole therein may be covered by a chair-seat 13, to the under side of which is secured a block 14, which closes the hole 3, so as tor securely hold the Aseat 13 in position when in use. Then the seat 13 is not in use, it may be turned up out of the way in the position shown in dotted lines, and when so turned up it is utilized as a back to the chair, constituting a comfortable support for the person using the commode, the face of the seat 13 being presented to the user whether the chair is being utilized as a commode or as an ordinary chair. In order that this may be accomplished, the seat 13 is pivotally connected to the chair-bottom 2- by means of a pair of arms 15, one on each side, pivoted at 1G to opposite sides of the block 14 and connected together at their lower ends by a cross-rod 17, which may be pivotally secured to the bottom 2 by means of staples 1S or other suitable devices. If desired, the arms 15 and. rod 17 maybe let into the face ot' the bottom 2, so that the seat 13 Will come flush with or flat against the face of the bottom. With the cover thus constructed it will be seen that While being raised into its open position, as shown in dotted lines, the forward edge will follow along the level of the chairbottom to the back, while the rear edge rises straight upward.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a chair provided with a hole in its bottom, and a pair of spring-jaws secured under said bottom at opposite sides of said hole, and each comprising acurved portion extending around the side of the hole, and two flexible portions adjoining the ends ot' the first said curved portion and extending toward each other, each of said flexible portions of each jaw being secured at its eXtremit'y to the chair-bottom, substantially as set forth.

2. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a chair provided with a hole in its bottom, and two spring-jaws sccured under said bottom at opposite sides of said hole, and each comprising two curved horns, one of which consists of the curved members 7 S running substantially parallel with each other, and the other of the curved members 9 10 running substantially parallel with each other, and pivots supporting said members 7-10, substantially as set fort-h.

3. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a chair provided with a hole in its bottom, and a pair of spring-jaws secured below said bottom at opposite sides of said hole, and each comprising two curved horns 7 8 and 9 10 of dierent lengths, the latter having its end turned forwardly toward the front of the chair, substantially as set forth. y

4.-. In a device for the purpose described, the combination oi' a chair having a hole in its bottom, and two spring-jaws secured under said bottom at opposite sides of said hole, and each comprising a longitudinally arranged curved member located a slight distance below the said bottom and concentrically with said hole, and laterally-projecting flexible extensions secured to the bottom and supporting each end of said curved member, substantially as set forth.

JOHN B. FROST.

Witnesses:

F. A. HOPKINS, W. D. CROSS.- 

